He grins. “Do you want me to read some of it aloud?”
“Why? Is it p**n ?”
“No.” He laughs. “It’s a dystopian. I was just thinking that you look beautiful.”
“Hmmm.” It’s all I say to that.
“Do you need me to do anything?” he asks.
“Why?”
“Just asking if there’s anything I can do to help, is all.”
“You look like you’re enjoying your book. I have it covered. You can make dinner tonight, though,” I tell him.
“Deal,” he replies, smiling. He lifts the book back up.
“I do know the joy of a good book, you know,” I say.
“So then you won’t mind if I get back into it then?” he ask, hope in his voice.
I pick up a pillow from the couch and throw it at his head.
I shake my head and go check on Parker. I tiptoe into his room and see he’s still fast asleep, with his mouth open and body sprawled across his entire bed.
Looks like it’s a lazy Sunday for everyone.
I get a text message from Levi, which says him and Gage are going on a double-date tonight. I grin and put my phone on charge. I hope he finds someone who makes him happy.
Parker wakes up, and we take him to the park. Tane and he play football together while I take photos of the two of them.
Too much time has been missed, so I want to capture these moments as much as I can.
*****
I enter the house, tired as hell from my day of work, only to notice that the place is spotless. The scent of dinner cooking wafts towards me, and I take a deep breath. It smells delicious. I walk into the kitchen and see Tane and Parker playing with a new Lego set on the kitchen countertop as something simmers on the stove.
“I could get used to this,” I call out as I enter, getting both of their attentions.
“Mum!” Parker yells, putting his arms out for a hug. I give him a warm cuddle and kiss him on the nose, then turn to Tane and give him a quick peck on the lips.
“What are you cooking?” I ask, peeping around him to see what’s on the stove.
“Pasta, nothing fancy,” he replies, lifting his hand up to gently cup my face. “How was work?”
“It was good. Same old,” I tell him, lip twitching as I take in the domesticated scene in front of me. It’s cute to think Tane is pretty much a stay-at-home dad—until he goes back to work, that is. I nibble on my bottom lip as I wonder what will happen when he does have to go back. More traveling for him, and Parker and I will have to manage without him again. The thought sucks, but I guess that’s life.
“Sit down, babe, relax a little,” Tane says, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“Let me have a quick shower first,” I reply, rushing to the bathroom. I take a two-minute shower, not bothering to wash my hair, and then get dressed in my leopard-print pyjama set. When I return to the kitchen, the table is set and my plate served. I sit down and smile at the two of them.
“Thank you,” I say, laughing at a grinning Parker who has pasta sauce all over this face.
“He was too hungry to wait for you,” Tane says, sounding a little apologetic.
“That’s okay,” I reply. “You didn’t have to wait either, you know.” This wasn’t some fancy dinner.
“I wanted to,” he says, only now picking up his own fork.
“What did the two of you get up to today?” I ask after I swallow my first bite.
“Picked him up from kindy and then we went bowling,” Tane replies.
I look to Parker. “Did you have fun?”
He nods his head enthusiastically. “Yes! I beat Daddy.”
I look up into Tane’s amused green eyes. “How did that happen?”
Tane grins wolfishly. “The better man won.”
I squeeze Tane’s thigh under the table, knowing he let Parker win—which I can’t help but find endearing.
Tane flashes me a heated look, so I retract my hand because now isn’t the time or place.
“Mum will you come with us next time? I want to beat you too,” Parker says, shovelling another mouth of food.
Tane laughs at his comment while I bite the inside of my cheek. “Sure, I’ll come next time.”
Tane cleans up as I put Parker to bed, grateful to be able to spend this little bit of time with him. I read him a book, and he’s asleep before I’m able to finish.
Tane is sitting on the couch when I leave Parker’s room, humming a song, but stands up when I enter.
“What song were you humming?” I ask him. I swear it sounded like “Let it go” from Frozen.
“Nothing,” he replies a little too quickly, a blush creeping on his cheeks.
I hide my smile. I guess Parker roped him into watching it. The kid is obsessed.
“Are you staying the night?” I ask him, fiddling with the hem of my top.
His Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows. “Do you want me to?”
Do I want him to? I know if he stays tonight, we will be doing more than sleeping. The sexual energy is all but crackling between us.
I clear my throat. “I would like it. If you wanted to, of course—”
“Of course I want to,” he cuts in. He closes the distance between us. “Just to be clear …”
“Yeah?” I ask breathlessly as his finger gently traces down my cheek.
“Are we just sleeping tonight?” he asks in a husky tone.